It said that three inspectors involved in making the reply to the RTI query have been suspended.
The Central Railway on Tuesday issued a clarification following reports of huge scam over the purchase of food for ten times its MRP by the catering department. The Railways has said that there have been typing errors which caused the miscommunication. Media reports added that the three inspectors involved in making the reply to the RTI query have been suspended. They belong to the commercial department of CR.
Here is the full statement, "The press clipping appeared in Hindi daily Dopahar Ka Saamana dated 26.4.2017 and The Hindu dated 2.5.2017 has been examined in detail with information furnished to the RTI applicant wherein it is revealed that the information was furnished by compiling and preparing tabulated sheet from voluminous records pertaining to multiple catering units available at CSTM, LTT, DR and HQrs. While preparing the computerised statement inadvertent typographical error occurred in item of Amul Curd in the month of Jan 2016. Upon knowledge of this error, a corrected copy of the statement along with relevant documents of records where the actual figure is reflected was furnished to the RTI applicant."
They have also said that mismatch in the stock items is a result of mistake. "Total stock available includes opening stock and stock purchased. But in the reply only stock purchased was shown which led to miscommunication," said Shailendra Kumar, CCM, CR.
"This RTI reply had 1200 pages. While making these replies there was negligence. We have initiated action and will make sure that this is not repeated," Kumar said.
Further it is submitted that as appeared in the press the RTI applicant has furnished the information the expenditure in total amount and multiplied the same for per cup per litre rate as against the actual expenditure which is reproduced below:
Item No. 1 Refined Oil
As per RTI - 58 Ltrs were purchased @ Rs.1241per Ltr amounting to Rs. 72034.
Clarification:- Actual quantity purchased was 58 tins of 15 Ltrs each (58 x 15 = 870 Ltrs) @ 82.7977 per Ltr (870 x 82.7977) which amounted to Rs. 72034/-
Item No. 2 Toor Dal
As per RTI - Toor Dal purchased at higher rate
Clarification:- Toor Dal was purchased @ Rs.143 per Kg which was the then prevailing market rate
Item No. 3 Tata Salt
As per RTI - Salt Purchased @ rate of Rs. 49/- per Kg.
Clarification:- Salt was purchased @ Rs.17.8 per kg.
Item No. 4 Moong Dal
As per RTI - Moong Dal purchased at higher rate
Clarification:- Moong Dal was purchased @ Rs.117.93 per kg which was the then prevailing market rate.
Item No. 5 Amul Curd
As per RTI - Information given 15336 cups of 100 gms each was purchased @ Rs.972.87per cup amounting to Rs. 1,49,19,934.32
Clarification:- This was a typographical error, as 15336 cups was purchased @ Rs.972.87 per carton containing 108 curd cups each of 100 gms amounting to Rs. 1,38,148/-. 1 carton rate of 972.87 was given as rate of one cup.
Item No. 6 Boneless Chicken
As per RTI - Boneless Chicken was purchased @ Rs. 237/- per kg whereas the market rate was Rs.160/- per kg.
Clarification:- 650 kg of Boneless chicken was purchased @ Rs.237/- per kg whereas the market rate for whole chicken (chicken with bones) was Rs.160/- per kg.
Earlier today, The Hindu reported that the catering department of Central Railways bought several essential kitchen items at a cost multiple times of the maximum retail price.
The information was revealed when the catering department of the railways responded to a second appeal filed by a petitioner under the Right To Information (RTI) Act and after a show-cause notice from the appellate authority was sent. The RTI was filed by activist Ajay Bose.
According to the response of the catering department, which included details of the ration bought across a couple of months instead of full year details that were sought in the RTI, a pack of 100 gm Amul curd was bought for Rs 972 which translates to Rs 9,720 for a kilo of curd.
There was a mismatch in the stock of the items too, the response to the RTI showed. According to the report, the response indicated more quantities of ration was distributed than was bought. If 250 kg of flour was bought, the response shows that 450 kg was distributed.
The reply to the RTI query says that units offered were more than units purchased.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Shailendra Kumar, CCM, Central Railway, Ravinder Goyal, DRM & @Narendra_IRTS, CPRO, addressing Media on incorrect catering infor")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}